The Cardboard Box variation / application of the principle was created by Ali Bongo with the most high-profile use of the effect being by Paul Daniels in the late 80's. All versions of the "floating cardboard box" illusion I've seen used have clearly been a direct lift from the Bongo / Daniels variation with the same moves and phases.

It was used in the TV series "The Paul Daniels Magic Show" 30 years ago but i don't have the exact episode to hand but there's a clip on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwqCL4xgueM this is a christmas special which was either 1988 / 1989 recording. It was not released as a marketed effect though Ali talked about it in his lectures and Paul discussed it occasionally (it wasn't special at the time - they invented 10+ illusions every year that were performed once then never used again) Raphael has a better archive of Paul & Ali's old creations than me; he can probably provide an exact date of broadcast of every version of it.

Aside from being a very creative performer he has a library and archive of contemporary European magic performance/history. Just as Max Maven or Jonny Thompson is the go-to guy in the USA, Rafael in the expert in Europe.

I really don't see any direct correlation between the various "no-feet" illusions and the Flying Box. Yes there is a "secret support" but it's in a completely different place, size, shape, orientation and style - to claim that the flying box is based on the Andre Kole or Joe Karson effects means you also have to claim that the Zombie Ball is based on it too.

There are designs by Harbin, Jarret, deKolter which all have much closer concepts to the flying both method (ie mechanisms and gimmicks to take the weight of a person inside an object so that the magician can handle the object as though it were empty) and so offer a clearer path of evolution to the Flying Box than the no-feet plot.

Also as a technical note, the no-feet as described in "The Counjurers Magazine" is clearly a vague idea not something that had actually been built as there are a number of basic technical errors and mistakes in its design that would be apparent to anyone that actually owned one. There's no doubt it's the genesis of the "no feet" routine in magic but is the equivalent of claiming that daVinci invented the helicopter.

I agree. I speak simply about inspiration and evolution in an historical point of view. And I thank you again for Ali Bongo reference. One of my friends who is writting a book about Suspensions and Levitations didn't know that.

Hello Philippe: Yes, I was referring to the "Super-X" Suspension gimmick (The "Flying Box" certainly has its roots in that same-type gimmick).

(btw--You didn't see the "Grant" name in the ad because Gen Grant was Percy's employee at the time, and although Grant was the true inventor of "Super-X", Percy never acknowledged or credited him with it).